Entry Instance

HTTP 200 OK
Allow: GET, PUT, PATCH, DELETE, HEAD, OPTIONS
Content-Type: application/json
Vary: Accept

{
    "id": 1439479,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1439479/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 789,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Kitui Central, WDM",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. (Dr) Makali Mulu",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": " Thank you very much, Hon. Temporary Speaker. I thank Hon. Members for their contributions to this important Report of the Public Debt and Privatisation Committee. I assure Hon. Members that the Committee is going to take their comments seriously and follow them up. There are some things that were mentioned by our colleagues which the Committee will make sure we are on top of them. One of the things that was mentioned by the Hon. Member for Homa Bay County is the issue of equity and value for money. She said that it is high time Kenyans got value for the money that we borrow from our friends, from other countries and from development partners. This issue has been raised very many times and it is very closely tied to the issue of the debt register that can get us to know how much has been borrowed, at what rates and at what repayment terms among other things. On the issue of equity, it is important that the money that is borrowed for Kenyans is applied with a bit of equity so that there is also equitable distribution of these resources because at the end of the day, all Kenyans will pay for that debt The other issue is what Hon. Nyenze raised. I wish that one day this country will be in a situation where we do not borrow at all. The Hon. Member talked about a balanced budget where we are able to live within our means. I assure the House that this Committee will be pursuing very keenly the issue and ensure that we continue to reduce our budget deficit so that at the end of the day, we start a journey to live within our means. That is critical. The other thing that also came up is the issue of debt accountability. Hon. Members mentioned that the National Treasury appears not to provide proper accountability of the loans. This was mentioned by Hon. Emmanuel Wangwe when he talked about the Committee finding loans have been borrowed but there is a gap when it comes to delivery of goods and services. It is high time all of us, as a House, took matters of public debt seriously. From the analysis, we have seen issues of Consolidated Fund expenditures take the lion’s share out of our Budget. So, it is important, as a House, we take this matter seriously. The Committee on Implementation should immediately take up these recommendations and run with them in terms of implementation. With those very many remarks, Hon. Temporary Speaker, I once more thank you for giving me this opportunity. I also thank Hon. Members for their contributions. I beg to reply."
}